'Awesome Kim' shines in this way, raising expectations for autumn baseball! 'First-place' Atlanta Braves surge with a powerful six-game winning streak; Kim Ha-seong enjoys full rest after four games

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Atlanta Braves infielder Kim Ha-seong (31) sat out for the first time in four games, enjoying a full rest. Atlanta surged with six consecutive victories, moving one step closer to securing a spot in the postseason.

On the 30th (Korean time), Kim Ha-seong was absent from the starting lineup for the home game against the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, during the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season.

Kim Ha-seong had been riding a strong upward momentum recently. On the 27th, he appeared as a pinch hitter in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit a walk-off single. In the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and runners on first and second bases while both teams were tied 5-5, Kim Ha-seong stepped up to the plate. He attacked Tanner Scott's 97.2 mph (approximately 156.4 km/h) four-seam fastball, driving a walk-off single to left field. The batted ball speed reached 103 mph (approximately 165.8 km/h).

Riding this momentum, Kim Ha-seong started in the lineup on the 28th game. This marked his first start since the the 8th game against the New York Yankees, a span of 20 days. He contributed to the team's 1-0 victory with three at-bats, one hit, two strikeouts, and one stolen base. Notably, in the bottom of the third inning with the team leading 1-0, no runners on base, and one out, he targeted a low 92.4 mph (approximately 148.7 km/h) splitter from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, resulting in a single to left field. He then stole second base, recording his second stolen base of the season.

Continuing his performance, Kim Ha-seong started as the leadoff hitter and shortstop in the game against the Colorado Rockies on the previous day (29th), going 0-for-3 with one hit-by-pitch. Although he failed to record a hit, he demonstrated his presence through several stable defensive plays.

This season, Kim Ha-seong has appeared in 34 games, recording a batting average of .084 (7 hits in 83 at-bats), 5 RBIs, 5 runs scored, 9 walks, 25 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases (0 failed attempts), an on-base percentage of .183, a slugging percentage of .084, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .267.

On this day, Atlanta sent Mauricio Dubón to start as the cleanup hitter and shortstop in place of Kim Ha-seong. Dubón contributed to the team's victory with one hit and one run scored in four at-bats.

Atlanta secured a thrilling comeback victory over Colorado with a 2-1 score. In the bottom of the eighth inning, when Atlanta trailed 0-1 and appeared destined for defeat, Matt Olson and Dubón recorded consecutive hits after two outs, creating a bases-loaded situation with runners on first and third. Michael Harris II then delivered a two-run, go-ahead double to left field. Later, in the top of the ninth inning, reliever Didier Fuentes navigated a crisis with runners on first and second and one out, preserving the team's victory.

Atlanta, leading the National League East Division with a powerful six-game winning streak, achieved its 81st win (55 losses) of the season. With a 5.5-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the same division, Atlanta holds a favorable position for securing an autumn baseball spot. If Atlanta reaches the postseason stage, Kim Ha-seong's performance is expected to draw even greater attention following recent opportunities granted by the current manager. Meanwhile, Colorado, now on a three-game losing streak, sits at the bottom of the National League West Division with 52 wins and 84 losses.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original